2014 roundtable topics﻿

Roundtables are the main academic component of TASC, but by academic, we don't mean sitting in a lecture hall...Roundtables are the chance to hash out the things you learned from field trips and speakers and to be exposed to a variety of perspectives, as each Roundtable is comprised of four representatives from both the Taiwanese and the American delegations. Roundtables are where you will...

specialize

...in one issue throughout the duration of the program to hone your understanding of that issue.

share

sift

...through multiple layers of the issue to isolate a specific aspect to target.

solve

...the issue by finding original solutions to not only present to the public and the world online, but also to execute in real-time.

taiwan-china-u.s. ﻿﻿ relations

For the past five years, China has become increasingly assertive in East and Southeast Asia. At the same time, the Obama Administration has made sure to strengthen alliances with nearly all nations bordering China. Noticeably absent in these discussions however, has been the country that lies at a critical juncture of East and Southeast Asia--Taiwan. Although the U.S. , along with many countries, severed official ties with Taiwan in 1979, the State Department has continued to stress that "maintaining strong, unofficial diplomatic relations with Taiwan is a major U.S. goal in line with the U.S. desire to further peace and stability in Asia."

At this Roundtable, we will propose a new direction for the Taiwan-U.S.-China relationship while uncovering a rarely--discussed facet of the relationship--how it affects the lives of the 23 million people of Taiwan.

MODERN ISSUES IN EDUCATION

What is the ultimate goal of education? How should we instruct? How does the environment and society we live in affect our education system? Such questions abound in the modern debate on education. In Taiwan, many criticize the education system for suppressing independent thinking and creativity with its emphasis on rote memorization. In the U.S., critics target the leniency of the education system, with many blaming incompetent teachers and the lack of a nationally standardized curriculum. Whatever the case, a country's education system is key to its future well-being and global clout.

At this Roundtable, we will identify the most pressing issues in the Taiwanese and American education systems, analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each system, and find innovative and realistic solutions.

diversitY, identity, and discrimination

"A civilization is to be judged by its treatment of minorities."-Gandhi

Globalization continues to bring together people of different backgrounds and identities. Understanding differences and treating all people equally is a constant struggle each country and individual battles with. For the U.S., debate over the DREAM Act in 2013 catapulted the immigration issue into the national spotlight. Across the Pacific, Taiwan has been grappling with the influx of Southeast Asian caregivers. And in both countries, the rising voice of the LGBTQ community continues to protest for equality and justice. In the U.S., 17 states have already legalized same-sex marriage, but just as in Taiwan, there is still more work to be done.

At this Roundtable, we will explore the different identities of people in both Taiwan and the U.S. and find solutions to encourage understanding and combat discrimination.

government & society

While the U.S. and Taiwan are both democratic societies, differences exist in the way they operate and the issues they focus on. For example, in the U.S., debate rages over how long the government should provide unemployment benefits and whether the government should take over health care. Taiwan on the other hand has universal health insurance, with issues such as reforms in the pension system and military conscription entering the spotlight instead.

In this Roundtable, we will analyze both political systems and how they shape their respective societies. From there, we will discuss the proper responsibilities of a government by exploring how the governments of the U.S. and Taiwan approach issues such as healthcare, poverty, education, and environmental protection. Lastly, we will examine what we as individuals should do to bring about change in our societies.

energy & environmental Sustainability

"The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earthto produce subsistence for man." - Thomas Malthus

Today, we continue to grapple with sustainability: with the global population projected to grow and surpass 10 billion by the end of the century, energy demand will only rise as commonly used natural resources become increasingly scarce. To address the growing energy challenges, we need to reevaluate our energy consumption as well as develop more efficient means of extracting and recycling energy.

In this Roundtable, we will bridge the gap between understanding energy issues and addressing them with concrete solutions by exploring the possibilities of environmentally sustainable models and analyzing their political, social, and technological implications.